Power tool



March 31, 1925. v

` W. H. GRIFFITH POWER TOOL Filed Jan. 18, 1924 2 v A INVENTOR.

Patented Mar. 31, 1925.

WILLIAM H. GRIFFITH, OF WOR-THINGTON, INDIANA.

POWER TOOL.

Applicatipnlled January 18, 1924. Serial No.; 686,995. A

To all lwhom t ma, concern.' f

Be it known that TrLLIAM H. GRIFFITH, a citizen of the Unitedy States, and a resident of'Worthin ton, county of Greene, and State of Indiana, lave invented a certain new and useful Power lTool, and do hereby declare that the following isa full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being., had to the accompanying drawings, in which` like numerals refer to like parts'. A

This `invention relates toa `lifting jack construction` andA is an improvement upon jacksv ofthecharacterzdisclosed in my prior Patentsl Yo.` 1,052,913, `and-No.1,315,929, dated respectively February 11, 1913 and September9, 1919.

The chiefk objectof the invention is to provide` a jack of' the general character illustrated and described in the beforementioned patents.

The chief f .feature `of the l invention consists in the simplification,` arrangement and reduction in the number `ot .parts `whereby the result-ant yjack construction is secured having the foregoing ygeneral object. This jack hasthe advantagefof selective operation, that is, la single ormultiplestep by step advancing movement,y and which also permits step by step return movement with theyactuatinglever or handle knormally to they "movement, so thatl approximately. the greatest leverage possible is'securedv for holding the load Awith `the handle in the lowering movement. `i/Xcorollaryof `the same and likewise a corollary to vthe Vfirst. part Vpreceding, is that the advancing or .load-elevating movement may be insingle. step yor :in a plurality .of steps with eachV actuation of the handle.' This permits light loads .to be rapidly elevated and heavier loads to be more slowly elevated,isince greater power is required to raise `the same, which greater power is secured by utilizing onlyv the greatest leverage possible.

kAnother and desirablefeature of the invention is the construction of the same, lso thatit is substantially*` enclosed by a hous-` ling whichserves as a load support. Y f

A peculiarly desirable-featured the invention ris the provision of two cooperating l'circular camr surfaces associated with the terminating ends of an fL-shaped leverl and,

a link. c, Y n y Another and .incidental feature4 ofi the in- "5 venton ,isY the .mourtinaupon @the .runner .in the housing of a wire clamp, and. associating with therstandard a detachable. bight handle carrying a wire clamp which is cooperatively formed forl rigidV multiple positioning upon said standard.

' Other and additional features will be more specifically point-ed out hereinafter description as well as in the claims. n

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawA ings and the following description and claims:

, In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side eleva.- tional view of the invention. Fig. 9. is a similar viewi'rom the opposite side thereof. Fig?) is an enlarged end elevation taken on the line 3 3 of'Fig. 2 and in the direction of th-e arrows. Fig. 4: is an enlarged side elevational view of the runner and a portion of the standard to illustrate partsin detail, the dotted lines 1, 2 and 3 indicating respectively the first, second and third step positions of the handle for moving the runner on the standard. Fig. 5 is a view simi- `lar to Fig. 4, but shows the parts in the descending position, some of the parts being shown in a second and dotted line position to more clearly illustrate the operation. F ig. 6 isv a perspective view of one of the loadsupporting dogs.

In the drawings 10 indicates a socketed base adapted to receive a standard 11 having flanges 12 at each edge or of substantially I-beam cross section. Each end of the standard is apertured, the lower end receiving a pin-13`for detachably anchoring the standard to the base, the upper end receivingA the pin or bolt 14 for detachably securing thereto a bight handle 15. The bight handle 15 includes th-e bight portion 16 and body indicated by the numeral 15 previously mentioned.

Reference will now be had to the invention, and herein the same is shown including arunner vhousing 21, which as previously stated, is adapted to substantially surround the standard 11. VHerein the standard. 11 is shown providedupon one face with teeth 28which teeth are formed so as to support a load carried by the runner housing when the standard is in the substantially vertical position. Supported upon the housing and enclosed thereby is a Shoe 29. .AbosurpQrM therebvs an actuating handle 39. lNithin the housing there is pivotally supported a dog 31 hav ing a lateral projection 32 and a plurality of teeth 33, herein three in number being illustrated. In this manner the load is divided among the several teeth. The liousing 21 is substantially L-shaped and is iiiverted upon the standard 11. It is provided with a suitable pivot 34 and a recess 35 to pivotally support and receive respectively said dog` 31 in the upper corner thereof. The dog 31 extends at approximately 45 downwardly and towards the toothed face of the standard for yielding engagement therewith, for which purpose a fiat curved spring 36 is provided. The spring 36 is likewise retained by and enclosed within the housing 21. By this arrangement the diagonally positioned dog or dogs exerts pressure through the head upon the runner or shoe housing respectively and thus the load is divided between a clamping engagement with the standard held between the dog and opposite liousing portion, and the usual seating or bearing of the dog teeth on the second ldog teeth is secured.

' The L-sliaped housingl 21 is provided with a serrated platform portion 37 which is adapted to support the load. Depending upon each side of said platform is an ear 3S including an aperture or pivot-receiving opening 39 for receiving the pivot 40. The pivot 40 pivotally supports a circular cani 41 which is positioned upon the angular extension 42 of the handle 30. The angular extension is provided with a cylindrical cam surface 43 eccentric to the pivotal support. Surrounding said circular cam 41 is a circular cooperating cam 44 which constitutes a link 45 that has a voke end 46 for engagement with a` pin 47 carried by the runner housing 29.

From the foregoing, therefore, it will be apparent that angular movement of the handle into anyone of the three dotted positions shown in Fig. 4 or in any intermediate position will cause the circular cam 43 to raise and lower the angular link 45 and thereby raise and lower the pin 47 and in turn the shoe 29.

The shoe 29 likewise is apertured and surrounds the standard 11and is slidably supported thereby. lWithin s aid shoe housing 29, there is pivotally supported at 4S. a dog 49 similar and substantially identical to the dog 31, and provided with similar teeth 5() and a lateralv projection 51 like the teeth 33 and lateral projection 32 of the dog 31. A curved spring 52 is similarly supported by the shoe 29 in the same manner that the ruiinerQl supports the spring 36, the springs beine` substaiitially identical. It is to be further noted,

see Fig. 3, particularly that the slice L substantially enclosed by the ruimer housing 21, and in this particular differs generically from the prior art including step by step jack constructions.

There is also provided a means for' re` versing the runner movement for the same movement of the handle. This mechanism includes an L-shaped lever 53 pivotally supported at 54 and provided with an outwardly extending finger piece 55, whereby the same .may be moved from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in Fig. 5, or vice versa. lVhen in the upper position, see Fig. 4, the runner will advance or be elevated upon the standard; and when positioned as shown in Fig. 5, the runner will be retracted or lowered upon the standard. The lever 53 is provided with a cani depression 56 adapted to engage a cain follower in the form of a plunger element 57 having a spring retainer 58 for retaining in position one end of a coiled spring 59 slidably received and positioned in a spring housing 60 alsoin the runner housing 21. The plunger or cani 57 is integral with a guide or trip plate 62 having the portions 63 and 64 slidably received in the channel formed in the I-beam and enclosed by the housing. There is also pro vided on said slide 62 a pair of lateral projections 65 and 66, which have curved or beveled surfaces upon their under sides and other surfaces upon their upper sides. These curved or under surfaces are adapted to engage the pins or projections 32 and 51 of the upper and lower, (runner and shoe), pawls or dogs respectively. Tilting movement, therefore, of the lever 53 releases the slide 62 and through the medium of the spring 59, the same is projected downwardly until it is in the position so as to overlie and lie adjacent said pins or projections 32 and 51. This constitutes the reversing mechanism of the jack; and in the movement of the several parts, the dogs 31 and 49 are alternately disengaged from the standard and lowered a single notch. thereby alternately lowering the shoe and the ruimer, and, therefore, ultimately the' load.

The operation may be briefly described as follows: It is assumed that the reversing mechanism lever 53 is iii the position shown in Fig. 4. The slide 62, therefore, is in the non-reversing or elevating position, being retained therein by the cam 56 on said lever. It is assumed thatY a load is supported on the housing 21. Actuation of the handle lever 30 to the dotted line 1 causes the link 45 to elevate the shoe 29 one tooth. Continued movement of the handle 30 to the position indicated at the dotted line?l in Fig. 4 causes the lshoe housing to be elevated two notches or teeth on the standard 11; and continued upward movement of the han- `handle. 30. Vhen the slice has been thus elevated one, two or three runner teeth and its locking tooth, dog or pawl 49 is engaged with the teeth upon the standard, return movement of the handle causes the housing, through the before-mentioned eccentric construction, to be relevated upon said handle; and with said housing` the load is elevated as well. In this'elevatingmovement,

the dog 31 is disengaged from the standard successively one, two or three groups of three teeth each, since each dog is provided with` three teeth, depending upon the amount Lof shoe travel previously imparted. From the foregoing, therefore, it will be noted that when the load is veryk heavy, greatest leverage will bel obtained by moving the handle in a relatively horizontal positi-on. Thus,

Y moving the handle yalternately to the position l land returning itto the horizontal" will utilize the greatest leverage to be obtained, and, therefore, the load can be elevated, step by step. Then the load is not so heavyas aforesaid, it 'may be possible to use smaller leverage, and in this Vinstance the handle will be moved from the horizontal position to the second position, and returned, thereby elevating the load at a faster rate than that previously described. If the load is apparently light, the handle may be moved to the position indicated at No. 3, for then the question of leverage and load is relatively unimportant.

For lowering movement, the reversing lever 53 is positioned as shown in Fig. 5, which releases the slide 62 to operation in association with the pa-wls 31 and 49. Movement of the handle 30 into the dotted line position thereupon cams the dog 49 out of engagement with the teeth on the standard l1 and permits the shoe to be lowered one tooth, the teeth of the dog or pawl 49 engaging the three adjacent teeth on the standard'. Return movement of the handle through the lever and eccentric construction previously described causes the slide 62 to move the dog 3l out of engagement with the teeth on the slide and thereupon puts the load on the handle and through the aforesaid construction upon the shoe. The load, therefore, causes the lowering of the ruimer 2l when released, whereupon the spring 36 causes the dog 31 to engage its three teeth with three of the teeth on the standard. Continued actuation of the handle 30 will continue to same may be advanced respectively, one, two

or three steps.

It may also be pointed out that when the handle` and reversing lever are in neutral position, the slide may be moved freely and at will up and' down the standard into substantially the desired approximate position. In the free upward movement on the runner on the standard, both dogs are simultaneously moved out of engagement with the teeth on the standard by reason of their yielding engagement therewith and the relative angles or beveling of the teeth. In the free lowering movement, the spring 59 causes the projections 65 and 6G of the slide plate. to simultaneously disengage the teeth onthe dogs 31 and 49 from the teeth on the standard, which permits the ruimer to be elevated or lowered.

While the invention has been described in great detail in the foregoing specifications, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, reference being had to: the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

l. In a jack, the combination of a stand-` ard, a runner supported thereon including a support, a slice, a circular cam surfaced lever eccentrically carried by said support, and a cooperating circular cam surfaced linkrconnected to said shoe and cooperating with the lever.

2. In a jack, the combination of an L-y shaped lever terminating in a cylindrical cam surface, a support pivotally supporting said lever eccentrically of said camy surface and within the same, -a shoe, and a link connected thereto' and terminating in a cooperating cylindrical cam surface and operable by said lever.

3. In a jack, the combination of an L- shaped lever terminating in a cylindrical cam surface, a support pivotally supporting said lever eccentrically of said cam surface and within the same, a shoe, and an L- shaped link connected thereto and terminating in a cooperating cylindrical cam surface and operable by said first-mentioned lever.

4. .In a jack, the combination of an L- shaped link, an L-shaped lever, each terminating in a cooperating cylindrical cam surface, an eccentric pivot for one of said surfaces, aiid a runner supporting said eccentric pivot and movable with a step by step movement.

5. In a jack, the combination of a standard, an approximately horizontal operating lever, and a runner on said standard supporting said lever including standard engaging means operable by the lever for lowering the runner only when the handle is moved upwardly from the horizontal.

6. In a jack construction, the combination of a standard, an operating lever, a runner on said standard supporting the lever and movable thereby, andmeans supported by said runner engaging said standard an operable by said lever for elevating or lowering the runner on said standard including a reversing mechanism, and means for rendering inoperative said reversing mechanism.

7. In a ack construction, the combination of a standard, an operating lever, a runner on said standard supporting the leverl and movable thereby, and means for neutrally positioning` said reversing mechanism, whereby the runner may be slid in a reversing direction on said standard to the desired degree.

8. In a jack, the combination of a standard, a runner, a shoe enclosed thereby, a dog in said runner and in said shoe, each or" said dogs having a plurality of teeth, and complementary teeth upon the standard engageable by the dog teeth.

9. In a jack, the combination of a standard, a runner, a shoe enclosed thereby, a dog in said runner and in said shoe, each o said dogs having a plurality of teeth, and complementary teeth upon the standard engageable by the dog teeth, said shoe being relatively movable with respect to said runner, whereby the runner may be elevated with a step by step movement one or more teeth selectively upon said standard, depending upon the selective elevation of said shoe.

l0. In a jack, the combination o1 a standard, a ruimer, a shoe enclosed thereby, a dog in said runner and in said shoe, each oiC said dogs having a plurality of teeth, and complementary teeth upon the standard engageable by the dog teeth, said shoe being relatively movable with respect to said runner, whereby the runner may be lowered with a step by step movement when the shoe is lowered.

il. In a jack, the combination ot a standard, a runner, a shoe enclosed thereby, a dog in said runner and in said shoe, each of said dogs having a plurality or teeth, and complementary teeth upon the standard engageable by the dog teeth, said shoe being relatively movable with respect to said runner, whereby the runner may be elevated with a step by step movement one or more teeth selectively or may be lowered with a step by step movement one tooth upon the standard, depending upon the selective elevation and lowering ot said shoe.

12. A device of the character described in the preceding claim, characterized by the addition of a selective reversing mechanism for securing elevation or lowering movement of the runner upon said standard as desired.

In witness whereof I have hereunto afiixed my signature.

WILLIAM II. GRIFFITH. 

